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12/20/2024
In IB Psychology, reviewing or Paper 2 can be difficult since the questions aren't always obvious. The topics of Paper 2 are somewhat more unclear than those of Paper 1. But the requirements remain the same as for Paper 1 essays, according to an IB psychology tutor in Delhi-India.
As a result, we can study for Paper 2 with a manner that is similar to that of Paper 1—we just need to slightly alter the sequence.
Select your topic or topics
Higher level (HL) learners select two options, while standard level (SL) learners must select just one. Four choices are available:
Human relations
Psychology of abnormality
Psychology of development
Psychology of health
The first assignment is simple: choose which of the two (SL) or one (HL) options you are studying for the test.
Selecting one or two subjects from each of the options you are preparing for is the next step. Every choice covers three subjects. There will undoubtedly be one question on each topic in the Paper 2 questions for exams. Thus, you are not required to study each of them. You will save hours of work on revision if you keep this in mind.
List the subjects covered in the exam questions
Similar to the first paper and the strategies, each of the Paper 2 Choices topics has a list of supplementary "content" points. An exam question could be based on any of the topics or content points (henceforth simply referred to as topics). This implies that it's critical that you are aware of the subjects that may be covered in the test.
For instance, "Etiologies of disorders" is one of the topics covered in abnormal psychology. There are two subtopics within this: (i) Disorder explanations and (ii) Disorder prevalence. Since any one of the three subjects could serve as the foundation for an exam question, I must then write them all out.
Exam Tips
When you write out a checklist of topics, you may discover that some of them overlap. You should search for this since it could make your list easier to manage. Etiologies of disorders, for instance, is just another word for explanations of disorders. Thus, in order to make this subject simpler, I would write it as follows: causes and explanations of illnesses.
It's crucial that I remember all of the important terms related to the exam because they may come up in the question. Imagine studying only the explanations of disorders and crossing out etiologies, only to forget what "etiology" means on test day!
Find a single example (or justification) for every subject
You learned the same method in Paper One when you were preparing for the SAQs. Every topic should have at least one pertinent example that you can write about. As a result, you must choose the precise subject you wish to write about.
In order to use etiologies and explanations of disorders for my example, I would first need to select the disorder I have studied (PTSD, for example) and the etiology or explanation for PTSD. For this topic, I could use the following example: "PTSD is explained or etiologically caused by brain abnormalities."
Write the detailed examples for each topic you intend to write about as you go through the list.
Even if your topic lacks a clear "example," you should still provide a solid explanation of it. One example is the Human Relationships option, which has a topic simply called "Bystanderism."
It's not a good idea to provide an anecdotal example of bystander behavior, like the case of Kitty Genovese. You would be better off developing a theory of bystander behavior (such as diffusion of responsibility). To find out if you require an explanation or example, ask your instructor.
Match each example with one or two important studies
Key studies are crucial to understand because they form the foundation of your psychological knowledge, much like in Paper 1. You must therefore locate a pertinent study for each example. For instance, I would have to locate research demonstrating that brain abnormalities are a contributing factor to PTSD.
Paper 2 pertains to essays, so I would suggest that each topic have at least two pertinent studies. Selecting a single study per topic from your list might be a smart tactic. Go back via your list and add another one after you've completed that. Try to identify numerous overlaps as you can.
For instance, you may come across a study that connects biological and cognitive etiologies, which is applicable to both subjects.
For every topic, choose one or two essential terms
Because these are the simplest ways to get marks on the test, it's a good idea to review your key studies first, in the view of an IB psychology tutor in Delhi-India from an IB Global Academy. Nevertheless, reviewing and learning the meanings of one or two pertinent key terms for each topic you're planning is another equally simple method to get good grades.
It goes without saying that you would want a very accurate definition of the disorder you are researching for Abnormal, such as PTSD. For instance, "PTSD is a mental illness that arises following a traumatic occurrence and is characterized by reliving the trauma, avoidance, and arousal." If you began your essay on the causes of PTSD using that definition, your examiner would be impressed right away.
Identifying a couple of key terms for each of your topics is the fifth and most important step. Additionally, don't repeat yourself. I don't need to write PTSD eight times, for instance, because it may be pertinent to all of the topics.
Write a central query for every subject
Now that you have your studies, topics, and important terms, it's time to include the main argument, which almost all IB Psychology students overlook.
You must determine what you need to know about each topic in order to demonstrate that you have a thorough understanding of it. It's fairly simple for the aforementioned example, Etiologies of Disorders. This is one of the reasons any IB tutor in Delhi - India suggests picking this subject.
